I subscribe to that old G.I. Joe mantra where the cartoon preached “knowing is half the battle.”

How much has the Blueprint changed now that only one member of the Trifecta remains?

That slogan, which came on at the end of my second favorite cartoon (Voltron was the funk), was part of the reason I became a journalist. My curiosity had to be quenched.

Too often the media and the fan base are in the dark on issues related to their beloved team, and that can lead to unfair criticism, or inaccurate assessments.

I’m gonna do my part to shed some light on issues that I’ve been educated about, hoping it will help the Miami Dolphins’ fans understand how the process works.

Here’s some draft information that might help during April’s never-ending draft talk. This isn’t Dolphins specific, but should be a helpful tool.

There are five aspects that determine if a draft prospect is on a team’s draft board, and how high they go. Here are those issues.

1. Physical ability: Can he play, and at what level? Is he an elite player (think Cameron Wake and Jake Long), potential starter (Vontae Davis and Brian Hartline), developmental project (Clyde Gates and Charles Clay), or a guy who needs to make the team as a core special teamer (Nolan Carroll, Chris Clemons and Jimmy Wilson), and might eventually develop into something.

2. The Medical: What is his health status? Is he a durable player? Does he have a degenerative issue (Frank Gore had degenerative knee issues)? This is the category that makes most high profile players mysteriously fall on draft day because teams discover heart issues, a knee issue that hasn’t properly healed, back troubles (FIU receiver T.Y Hilton has some red flags I’m told), and even attention deficit disorder problems. No draftnik or media member knows these things till after the fact.

3. Character: Is a draft prospect a knucklehead? Does he have legal troubles? How many baby mothers does he have? Does he have a drug or gambling problems (Dolphins are real concerned about these two). Is he a leader in the locker room, or is he a me-guy who worries about himself? This is the easiest way to get taken off the Dolphins’ draft board, which usually has less than 150 players on it. The Dolphins stay away from players with a history of drug use, and have questionable character. However, they do their homework in many instances, like we saw last year with Wilson, who spent some time in prison before resuming his playing career at Montana.

What most people don’t realize is that when an NFL player struggles there’s usually an off-field connection to it (baby momma drama or a divorce is the worst), and good character can help you weed some of those issues out.

4. Does he fit what a team’s doing scheme wise: We’re talking 4-3 or 3-4, west coast or pro style offense? And don’t forget Ireland’s size molds. Ireland admits he does intend to stick with his size molds, and I don’t disagree with that line of thinking. One of the few things I learned from Bill Parcells was “once you make an exception, next thing you know you’ve got a team full of exceptions.”

The Dolphins are searching for more athletic offensive linemen, and receivers who catch the ball cleanly and produce YAC, which are yards after catch. That’s the direction the offensive blueprint has shifted to.

5. Intelligence: How long will it take the player to pick things up? Will he blossom quickly once he learned the playbook? Can he think his way out of trouble? How will he be able to sell the franchise? You discover some of those issues during team dinners and visits, where players are put through a ton of mental tests and challenges.

From what I’m told by numerous teams, players get a draft grade from 9.0-to-4.0 that is primarily based on their skill level.

Then all the other aspects are evaluated, and each aspect that doesn’t mesh with the team – each knock on the player – drops his grade.

So for example….and this is just an example…. North Carolina defensive end Quinton Coples might have a 7.0 grade based on his ability, size and athleticism. But the questions about his motor MIGHT drop him as much as one full point. A medical issues could cost him another point.

Same goes for Melvin Ingram. His one year of productivity at South Carolina could cost him a point, and his small frame and short arms could cost him another point.

The grades determine what round a team projects a player will be selected in. Sometimes a team like the Dolphins can like a player – like former UM tight end Jimmy Graham – a lot. They could give him a grade that warrants a fourth-round selection. Problem is one of the 31 other teams, say the Saints, might feel he’s worth a third-round pick.

Grades are very subjective, but critical to a team’s success in the draft, and on Sundays.

Bat , i love you but stop being an azz !! Lets give d thomas some time , philbin likes him alot . Ireland also traded up to get langford . Bruin are HOT and peaking at the right time . GO BIG BAD BRUINS !!

NJ PHIN FAN says:
March 29, 2012 at 4:35 pm
OMG !! LMFAO !! i just saw the post on the previous blog on HOME impersonating some of the mob members over at the MH !! . I’m SHOCKED i wasn’t included LOL !! Talk about disturbing ! What’s more disturbing is some actually thinking what he says is cute and pleading with him to come back here . SMH

LOL ..We’re leery of anyone as unpredictable and unhinged as Home. His few moments of lucidity are more than offset by his insane rantings. We might be interested in employing him as an independent contractor, but only on a solo basis. I wouldn’t want him to be in a position to negatively influence any of the minions, even the minor demons and low vermin. ..lol

Did anyody mention the article in the SS by mike bernadino that is titled ” jeff ireland is no clown in the eyes of his peers ” ” Yet we have some here that b*tch and moan ev eryday that nobody respects ireland LOL !! The hatred blinds some of the true facts . SMH

bat , they gave up a measly 5th and 7th to move up . Yes i saw the cermony for big Z’s 1000th game . The guy is great !! The bruins are getting everybody back and it was great seeing peverly come back flying all over the ice . Chiarrelli still thinks horton will come back but young jordan caron is doing a good job playing power forward on the top 2 line !! REPEAT ! REPEAT !!

To be honest I think the best option for the Doplhins at this point is to stack the team as much as they can with elite talent in the draft(bruce irvin at #8) and so on and when the year comes wether its next year or the year after, that there is a truly an elite QB like a RG3 or luck, trade whatever draft picks you need to move up and get him. But right now i wouldnt just take a qb just because he is a qb. Do ppl really think Tanny is elite or we just making him elite because were desperate for a qb? thats what im afraid of. I was all for trading up for luck or rg3 because 99% of folks beleive both guys will be elite and are the best qb prospects in 10-15 years. How does Tanny go from 2nd rd prosepect to now being drafted at 8 overall? head scratching.

…its moot what we or anyone else but Sherman/Philbin think …simple as that …you can drown in the chatter pro/con Tannehill …won’t make a bit of difference …Sherman knows him better than anyone

…imnsho, we wouldn’t send our top 3 player evaluators to his pro-day if Sherman wasn’t pushing for him …Ireland, Philbin, and our top scout went to see for themselves w/o Sherman there to influence them

…ask yourselves just how many pro-days are Philbin and Ireland attending together? …if they take Tannehill, it won’t be because he was artificially pushed up the board

NJ PHIN FAN says:
March 29, 2012 at 5:05 pm
Did anybody mention the article in the SS by mike bernandino that is titled ” jeff ireland is no clown in the eyes of his peers ” ” Yet we have some here that b*tch and moan everyday that nobody respects ireland LOL !! The hatred blinds some of the true facts . Isn’t amazing how the ireland haters failed to post a link about this article but will post every tweet , story , rumor , ect that suits their agenda of hating on ireland ? LMFAO !! SMH

You can say we didn’t give up much to get the guy(debatable, but I disagree)…but why bother giving up ANYTHING to draft a RB? I think it was a terrible move by a GM who got nervous that HIS player was gonna get drafted by another team.

Woulda coulda shoulda …did’nt .And with good reason. Who was going to run the ball for us ? At that point, we did’nt even have what we thought was a situational RB in Bush. With a ground and pound type offense think it was a good decision. He had a hidden injury. He will prove himself in the WCO when D’s are not loading the box against the run.

“who spent some time in prison before resuming his playing career at Montana.”

Not that big of a deal, but it was jail and not prison. Prison is for people convicted and doing more then 9 months and 1 day for a sentence. Since he was hold for court for trial he was in country jail.

I think as far as Tannehil goes its a fairly simple proccess. A Franchise QB is NEVER a reach at any spot in the draft. If you think hes got all the tools you want you take him at 8, maybe even move up if need be, but if your not sure and dont like him, take someone else. We need more than a QB to get back to mattering.

Also I personally hope we take Coples @ 8. I think thats the best bet, hopefully he’ll still be there, and can line up opposite of Cam Wake. Worry about QB next year, get some more core talent now and draft 2 WR’s in the 3rd, dont trade either, having back to back picks is awesome.

OMAR KELLY was unsuccessful at achieving his childhood dream to become a super hero, so he figured he'd do the next best thing and become a journalist who fights against injustice, and searches for truth. After being bored to death reporting news and covering politics, he switched to sports.
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IZZY GOULD joined the Sun Sentinel in Feb. 2012 as a Senior Sports Reporter on the Miami Dolphins beat. He came to South Florida fresh off covering the University of Alabama football program, including its 2011 national championship team. More